Cold and wet weather interfering with spring sports isn't a new issue.

Every year, games get postponed, schedules get rearranged and fields need to drain and be raked. After all, there's no solution to Mother Nature's wrath.

That being said, what's happening right nowisn't normal.

It's the first week of April, and only four of the YAIAA's 22 baseball teams have played a game since the season officially opened on March 23. Those four— Dallastown, Eastern York, Kennard-Dale and Biglerville — have played once. Things aren't much better in softball, also with four teams (Dallastown, Dover, Bermudian Springs and York Catholic) taking the field so far.

Most programs have had three or four games postponed due to rain and snow. And with rain in the forecast for Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday of this week, it's likely more games will be pushed to later dates.

The situation has local coaches feeling nervous about getting all of their games played.

"We've had years with the first one or two games getting postponed but I can't remember missing the first four," veteran Central York baseball coach Mike Valencik said. "The guys are anxious to get on the field and it's not happening right now."

Baseball and softball teams schedule around 17 to 20 regular-season games, with 14 or 15 coming against league opponents. Most squads wrap up the regular season before May 10, with all games needing to be played before the District 3 cutoff date of May 16. Teams must play a minimum of 10 games to be eligible for the postseason.

That means teams are facing the prospect of playing four games in a given week to make everything fit. If the rainouts continue, it's possible some doubleheaders will have to be scheduled on Saturdays.

"The 16th through the 19th (of April) we've got four games in a row," Spring Grove softball coach Mark Hull said. "It's a problem and the athletic directors are in the same situation. Our girls are going stir crazy and its one of those things where it doesn't seem like it's going to break."

When looking at scheduling, coaches said it's important to prioritize league games over non-league opponents. Still, some have wondered if the annual YAIAA tournaments — which wrap up May 15 (softball) and May 16 (baseball) — could be canceled if teams need those days for regular-season contests.

YAIAA executive director Chuck Abbott said the league will do everything it can to prevent that from happening. Still, he expects it to be a topic of conversation at next week's athletic directors meeting.

"To my knowledge we've never had to (cancel a league tournament)," Abbott said. "We're going to do everything we can not to. We might have to get creative to get all the games in."

Abbott said it's been years since a snowstorm pushed baseball and softball schedules back more than one week. And that was before the PIAA adopted its current pitch count rule for baseball.

That rule complicates things even more.

Under the 2017 rule, no pitcher can appear in more than two consecutive games, with a specific amount of rest days attached to the amount of pitches they throw.

1 to 25 pitches in a game (no rest days required).

26 to 50 pitches (one calendar day of rest required).

51 to 75 pitches (two calendar days of rest required).

76 to 100 pitches (three calendar days of rest required).

Also, pitchers are not allowed to exceed 200 pitches in a calendar week, which is considered to be from Sunday through Saturday.

With three to four games expected to be played some weeks, coaches might have to turn to unproven arms to get through the season.

"I know I'm going to be talking to our JV coach because there might be a situation where he can't use a guy in a JV game because I might have to use him for varsity that week," Gettysburg coach Ryan Brady said. "When you've got eight games in 11 days, do the basic math. Luckily, we have seven pitchers we're comfortable with."

Added Valencik: "Most high school teams are hoping to have two tops pitchers and a third guy taking you through the year. Now, that's not the case. We're prepared for it but I hope coaches don't overuse these kids' arms."

In the meantime, teams are getting creative in looking for ways to keep players sharp. That means training indoors and trying to simulate game situations any way possible.

If there's one silver lining, it's that every team is in the same position. And they all are itching to get back on the field.

"Like everybody else we're finding ways to get our work in," Brady said. "As bad as it has been, once the weather clears it will go really fast and we have to get players prepared. It's our job to make sure they're ready."